The natural course of traumatic myocardial infarction in a young patient with angiographically normal coronary arteries

Heart Lung. 2012 May;41(3):294-300. doi: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2011.07.001. Epub 2011 Oct 19.

Abstract

A 23-year-old man with no history of heart disease was admitted to Beijing Anzhen Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University for an abnormal electrocardiogram of ST-T changes mimicking myocardial infarction. Catheterization revealed normal coronary and peripheral arteries. The echocardiogram and delayed enhancement cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging indicated a markedly reduced left ventricular function and enlarged left ventricular cavity with evidence of fibrous tissue. Given the patient's history of multiple blunt trauma 7 years previously and acute myocardial infarction diagnosis at that time, he was diagnosed with traumatic myocardial infarction (TMI). We describe the natural course of such a patient with TMI. There is a possibility of spontaneous healing of coronary artery dissection induced by trauma. Although early revascularization may be helpful for preventing cardiac remodeling after TMI in some cases, more data are needed to compare the long-term outcome among different interventions in large sample cases.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Coronary Angiography / instrumentation*
  • Coronary Vessels / pathology
  • Coronary Vessels / physiology*
  • Electrocardiography / instrumentation
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Myocardial Infarction / diagnosis
  • Myocardial Infarction / diagnostic imaging
  • Myocardial Infarction / pathology*
  • Stroke Volume
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / instrumentation
  • Ultrasonography
  • Ventricular Function, Left
  • Young Adult